Fair kicks off in style

The sun came out just in time to kick off the Whidbey Island Fair on Thursday.

By Kira Erickson • July 28, 2023 1:30 am

After a few days of gray skies and scattered showers, the sun came out just in time to kick off the Whidbey Island Fair on Thursday.

Slowly but surely, the fairgrounds in Langley came to life that morning as vendors set up their wares, carnival rides whirred dizzily into motion and animals began their competitions of the day.

Sandwiched between the chicken, cavy and sheep barns, Matt Hoar prepared to put on his first Clucky Show of the year. The brief show, which happens thrice a day, is a beloved staple of the fair and involves young contestants and their 4-H animals.

Dressed in an outfit that’s part chicken, part steampunk, Hoar dished out plenty of poultry puns for the gathered onlookers – mostly under the age of 10 – and their guardians.

“Thank you for laughing,” he told one chuckling woman.

Hoar has performed some variation of the Clucky Show since 2008. In its first year, it was known as the Chicken Olympics, a nod to the Beijing Olympics that also happened that summer.

The show involves a series of circus-esque shenanigans with the use of props Hoar, who is a carpenter, made himself from plywood.

Though he’s been asked before to take the show on the road, he prefers to keep things local.

The first show of Thursday featured the antics of guinea pig Gary, owned by 11-year-old Andrew Stigers of Clinton, and a young chicken named Ostrich being shown by 8-year-old Valerie Craven, also of Clinton. The small animals spun on a wheel, navigated a seesaw and even “surfed.” Gary was outfitted with a tiny life vest.

“They asked me if I wanted to, and I accepted the challenge,” Stigers said of being in the Clucky Show. “It was very fun.”

Competitors in the chicken barn had much to crow about when it comes to their fowl. Erin Kelly, who competes in open class, shared the story of her white cochin hen. The bird has thick white feathers, even on her legs.

“She got so gorgeous, I said, ‘Oh, she’s going back in the fair again’ and I haven’t let her even touch the ground practically,” Kelly said.

Petting zoos offered passersby the opportunity to touch a piglet from Ballydidean Farm Sanctuary, or Raja the famous tortoise from Critters and Co. Pet Center and Rescue in Ken’s Korner in Clinton.

Kids fashioned animals, people and other critters out of fruits and vegetables under a canopy tent.

Over on the midway stage, a young woman with an acoustic guitar crooned a mournful tune about an ex-lover, to enthusiastic cheers from a pair of fans in the grandstands. People enjoyed cuisines of all kinds, from hot dogs to gyros to teriyaki chicken.

The Whidbey Island Fair runs until Sunday, July 30.

Erin Kelly with her prized white cochin hen. (Photo by David Welton)

Andrew Stigers, 11, with his cavy Gary during the Clucky Show on Thursday. (Photo by David Welton)

Mack Wright holds piglet Sage. (Photo by David Welton)

Ventriloquist Jerry Breeden brought a variety of friends to his performance on Thursday. (Photo by David Welton)

Ostrich the chicken, shown by 8-year-old Valerie Craven, “surfs” during the Clucky Show on Thursday with the help of Matt Hoar. (Photo by Kira Erickson/South Whidbey Record)